Army Corps Out of Action

Rep. Henry Waxman, the ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, today posed this question:

"Could the New Orleans levee system have held? The budget of the Corps of Engineers for construction projects in New Orleans district was cut by over 40% between 2001 and 2005, apparently to free up funds for the war in Iraq and homeland security projects. In 2004, for the first time in 37 years, the Corps halted all work on the New Orleans levee system."

He wants Congress to hold hearings. Don't hold your breath.